Cliff Jump

Most people have experienced jumping off of something into water, even if only off the highboard at their local pool. Others fondly remember a favorite swimming hole with with a rocky ledge or old bridge to bravely leap from. And it's a safe bet you remember just how hard water can be when you hit it wrong; so before you go jump off your nearest bridge because we told you to, be sure to keep the height fairly low at first, say 25-40 feet (which will seem quite high when you’re up there).

Cliff jumping, also known as ‘tombstoning’ for some reason, has its own claim to being at least part of a relatively young sport, called coasteering, which involves the exploration of remote and rugged shorelines without a boat, and apparently jumping off of cliffs whenever feasible to do so. Sounds like fun to us..

Making It Happen

All you need is a high ledge with a sufficiently deep pool below and a second or two of courage. But where to go? It’s not a bad idea to book a tour with one of the commercial coasteering outfitters, most of which are found along the rocky coasts of the United Kingdom. The benefit of going with the pros is they’ll have the expertise and know all the best spots.

Alternatively, deserted quarries and strip mining operations that have filled with water over the years often offer excellent cliff jumping opportunities. Many have been converted to public swimming and jumping venues, have deep water, and are pretty safe. It’s not advised to try jumping alone or in areas where the water conditions are unknown, for obvious reasons.

If you get really, really good then Red Bull sponsors a cliff diving world series with some super scary looking jumps.